Rules-based targeted content message serving systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A method of serving targeted content messages for display in a website accessed in a browser program of a networked computer communicatively connected to a network at a network address for communications, delivers uniquely targeted content messages displayed in websites viewed in web browsers. The method includes placing a script device in a website file, processing the website file, together with the script device by a particular web browser on download of the website file, including by determining the network address of the networked computer, determining an identifier of the website file, and sending an artifact representing the network address and the identifier over the network to a server computer. The method also includes detecting the network address and the identifier by the server computer, querying a database for a database article related to the network address and the identifier, constructing a script program stored in memory of the server computer for the particular browser and website file, and constructing an ad device stored in memory of the web browser device from the script program. The method further includes calling the server computer by the ad device by communication of an identifier representing an action of the web browser device, receiving the identifier by the server computer, querying the database for a select message artifact related to the script program, the identifier, the website file, and the web browser, and responding by the server computer to the web browser with the select message artifact. A message represented by the select message artifact is displayed in the website then viewed in a browser window of the web browser. Messages can be prioritized and are uniquely targeted in content, based on real-time activities of the web browser.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to communications networks anddevices and content serving systems of the networks, and, moreparticularly, relates to computers and networks for targeted contentmessage serving to networked communications devices according to rulesand unique device and network characteristics.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, a networked communications device operating a webbrowser program may request a website from a web server of the network.In response to receiving the request, the web server, which maintains oraccesses a website file for the website, communicates the website fileover the network to the communications device. The web browser programof the communications device translates the website file to provide agraphical display of the website in the web browser program.

The web file for a website consists of a markup language code, typicallyHypertext Markup Language (HTML) program code (or a variant of HTML).Elements intended to appear in the website as separate or distinct (suchas with unique or special attribute of font, format, appearance, orsimilar characteristic) are typically organized in the HTML code as arespective HTML tag for each such element. Various types of tags areavailable with HTML code. For example, HTML div tags are a type of HTMLtag which allows particular justification or alignment of an item in thewebsite when displayed in a web browser program. Within such an HTML divtag in the HTML code, a file (such as a .jpg, .gif, text or other) maybe named, corresponding to an image and/or text. The HTML div tag allowssuch image or text to be desirably justified or aligned when displayedin the website.

A limitation of HTML has been that the HTML tags are static asprogrammed, and provide little, if any, logical or other functionalityapart from simple display as the website in accordance with the codedsubject matter (e.g., text and named items). All web browsers accessingthe website, thus, receive the same website. Text and images set out inHTML tags, including HTML div tags, appear substantially the same toeach communications device which accesses the website. HTML does not,itself, make it possible to provide unique content targeted to eachrespective communications device based on specific interests andcharacteristics of the device and its user.

In certain conventional systems, a web server may select a particularcontent, from among alternative content at the server, forcorrespondence to a particular HTML div tag. These web servers haveemployed profiles of viewer devices, created from statisticaldeterminations of website viewing history to make content selections.Communications devices accessing the website from the web server areserved content chosen based on the statistical profile. These profilesare based on aggregate data of historical viewers of a website, and havelimited effectiveness in actually targeting website content for uniqueinterests of any particular individual viewer.

Other systems have employed spy programs (or other similar securityintrusions) operated on the communications device to identify activitiesof the communications device. The spy programs collect such details asprior website or web page browsing practices of the communicationsdevice. The activity details are then employed to deliver ads or otherdownloads to the communications device, such as according to categoriesor types of websites visited or other actions taken at thecommunications device. Such ads have typically been in form of pop-up,overlay frame, or separate browser window displays. These types of adsare viewed as distinct from the website, and tend to be distracting andannoying to website viewers. Moreover, such spy programs can presentsecurity concerns and affect operations of communications devices onwhich operating. In essence, these schemes have not effectivelydelivered specific content within a viewed website, targeted tocorrespond to unique interests of the particular individual viewer.

It would, therefore, be desirable to provide new and improved systemsand methods for delivering uniquely targeted content within a websiteviewed by a communications device. It would also be desirable to bettertarget the particular content of the website to actual unique interestsof each respective viewer, and to limit intrusion and impact tooperations of the viewer's communications device in doing so.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the invention is a system for serving targeted contentmessages over a network to a web browser device communicativelyconnected to the network. The web browser device processes a websitefile of the web browser device as a website. The web browser device hasa network address for communicating on the network. The system includesa server computer, including memory, communicatively connected to thenetwork, a database communicatively connected to the server computer,including at least one rule device for the website file and a pluralityof message artifacts for the website file, a script constructor of theserver computer, including a PHP script builder, a PHP script storage ofthe server computer, and a PHP script stored in the PHP storage of theserver computer. The PHP script is created by the PHP script builder ofthe script constructor based on the at least one rule device, thewebsite file, and the network address of the web browser device. An addevice of the website file is created by the PHP script builder of thescript constructor based on the at least one rule device for the websitethe website file, and the network address of the web browser device. Aprioritizer of the database selectively orders retrieval, according tothe at least one rule device for the website file, of select ones of themessage artifacts for the script constructor. A call article of the addevice is communicatively connected over the network to the servercomputer. A select message artifact of the database is retrieved by thescript constructor based on the PHP script stored in memory and theprioritizer of the database, in response to the call article. A selectmessage is displayed in the website for to the website file in thebrowser device, the select message display corresponding to the selectmessage artifact. The PHP script stored in memory of the server computeris varied based on the call article, and the message article variesaccording to the particular PHP script stored in memory at the time ofthe call article.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method of serving targetedcontent messages for display in a website accessed in a browser programof a networked computer communicatively connected to a network at anetwork address for communications. The method includes placing a scriptdevice in a website file for the website, processing the website file,together with the script device, in the browser program, including bydetermining the network address of the networked computer, determiningan identifier of the website file, and sending an artifact of thenetwork address and the identifier over the network, to a servercomputer communicatively connected to the network. The method furtherincludes detecting the network address and the identifier by the servercomputer, querying a database by the server computer for a databasearticle related to the network address and the identifier, constructinga script program stored in memory of the server computer, based on thestep of querying, constructing an ad device stored in memory of the webbrowser device, based on the script program stored in memory of theserver computer of the step of constructing the script program, callingthe server computer, by the ad device, by communication of an identifierof an action of the web browser device, receiving the identifier by theserver computer, querying the database by the server computer inresponse to the step of receiving, for a message artifact related to thescript program, the identifier, the website file, and the web browser,and responding by the server computer to the web browser device with themessage artifact for display as a message in the website.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is a method of providing atargeted content message service over a communications network. Themethod includes providing an administration website communicativelyaccessible by a network device over the network, accessing theadministration website by the network device via the network, deliveringa plurality of message items to the message server database, and settinga rule policy of a message server database by the network device, viainput to the administration website, to prioritize respective ones ofthe plurality of message artifacts. The method further includesproviding a website file to a web server computer communicativelyconnected to the network, the website file includes a specified scriptdevice, serving the website file of the web server computer, to abrowser program stored in memory of a client device communicativelyconnected to the network, receiving a unique network address of theclient device and an identifier of the website file by a server computercommunicatively connected to the network, querying the database for theunique network address and the identifier, based on the rule policy ofthe step of setting, constructing a script builder stored in memory ofthe server computer, based on the step of querying the database for theunique network address and the identifier, constructing an ad device bythe server computer based on the script builder stored in memory of theserver computer, and serving the ad device to the browser program storedin memory of the client device. The method also includes receiving anindicator by the server computer via the network, of an action of theweb browser from the ad device, querying the database for a select oneof the plurality of message items, based on the indicator, constructinga message artifact by the server computer via the script builder, forthe select one of the plurality of message items, sending the messageartifact by the server computer, to the browser program stored in memoryof the client computer, logging an indicia of the indicator, the selectone of the plurality of message artifacts, and the step of sending theselect one of the plurality of message artifacts, by the database; andvarying the script builder stored in memory of the server computer,based on the step of logging.

In the embodiments, a plurality of websites, each with unique messages,prioritization of messages, and real-time serving of uniquely targetedcontent to pluralities of web browsers, based on actions, expectedinterests, and advertising objectives, is contemplated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the accompanying figures, in which like referencesindicate similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for targeted content message serving,according to certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a method of serving a targeted content message to abrowser, according to certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a system for targeted content message serving in aclient-server website network, according to certain embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a database for targeted content message serving,according to certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a method of creating a message script device in atargeted content message serving system, according to certainembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of serving a targeted content message to abrowser viewing a website in a client-server website network, accordingto certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary web page for creation of a targetedcontent message serving campaign, according to certain embodiments ofthe invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a portion of the web page of FIG. 7 of a ruleassignment process for a targeted content message serving campaign,according to certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a preview of a targeted content message to bedisplayed in a website viewed in a browser, according to certainembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example embed script for a script device for awebsite to receive targeted content messages displayed in the website,according to certain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a user folder of the web page of FIG. 7 foradministration of a targeted content message serving campaign, accordingto certain embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary message displayed in website processedby a browser of a client device, according to certain embodiments of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Targeted Message Serving Systems

Referring to FIG. 1, a system 100 for serving a targeted content messageincludes a message server device 102 and a browser device 118, eachcommunicatively connected, for example, via a network 104, forcommunication between the message server device 102 and the browserdevice 118. The network 104 is any one or more of a wide variety ofcommunicative link, for example, wire, cable, wireless, optic fiber,cellular, wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), wirelesslocal area network (WLAN), satellite or other communicative link now orhereafter available, or combinations of any of these.

The browser device 118 of the system 100 is, for example, a clientcomputer or other processing and communication device having orcommunicatively connected to a browser processor 120, memory 122, and ascript device 124. The message server device 102 is, for example, aserver computer or other processing and communication device having orcommunicatively connected to a message server processor 106, memory 108,a database 110, an extension handler 112, a script writer 114, a scriptstorage 116, and a configuration device 117. An example of the network104 is the Internet, although any other communications networkconnecting the browser device 118 and the message server device 102 isalso contemplated herein.

The browser device 118 includes or accesses a browser program stored inmemory 119 (referred to herein as the “browser 119). The browser 119 iscontrolled by the processor 120, in conjunction with input to andoperations of the browser device 118). The script device 124 is hardwareand/or software processed by the browser 119 during its operations. Incertain embodiments, the script device 124 is a program stored in memoryand processed by the browser 119 of the browser device 118. For example,the script device 124 is a script program stored in memory, such as aFlash (.swf) file (or other small file) embedded in JavaScript containedin a website file for a web page. The script device 124 is stored inmemory of the browser device 118 upon download by the browser device 118(via the browser 119) of a website file containing the script program,the website file corresponding to a website that is serviced by thesystem 100. The script device 124 is concealed during processing in thebrowser 119. The browser 119 processes the script device 124 while thebrowser device 118 operates the browser 119. The script device 124, viacommunications over the network 104 of the browser 119 with the messageserver device 102, instigates communication of at least oneidentification device 126 for the browser device 118 as will be laterfurther described.

The message server device 102 includes the extension handler 112. Theextension handler 112 is a hardware device(s) or software program(s)stored in memory of the message server device 102, or combinations ofsuch software and hardware. In certain embodiments, the extensionhandler 112 is a program stored in memory and processed by the processor106. The extension handler 112 detects incoming communications to themessage server device 102 over the network 104, identifies any of theidentification device 126 (and any call device(s) 138, as laterdescribed) received from the browser device 118 over the network 104,parses each identification device 126 (and each call device 138, as maybe applicable) that is received, and directs commencement of operationby the script writer 114 in response to the identification device 126.The extension handler 112 also directs commencement of operation by theconfiguration device 117 in response to the identification device 126(and each call device 138, as may be applicable).

The message server device 102 also includes the script writer 114. Thescript writer 114 operates responsive to the extension handler 112,after receipt of the identification device 126. The script writer 114 isa hardware device(s) or software program(s) stored in memory of themessage server device 102, or combinations of such software andhardware. In certain embodiments, the script writer 114 is a programstored in memory and processed by the processor 106. The script writer126, responsive to the extension handler 112, creates a message serverscript 116 a that is stored in the script memory 116 of the messageserver device 102. The message server script 116 a is, for example, aHypertext Preprocessor (PHP) server-side scripting language programstored in memory by the script writer 114. The message server script 116a is unique for the particular browser device 118 and the certainwebsite file accessed by the browser 119 containing the script device124, because of the particular identification device 126 communicated bythe browser device 118 to the message server device 102, as laterfurther described. The script writer 114 can also create a replacementmessage server script 116 a (or a new or different message server script116 b) if directed by the extension handler 112 (for example, on receiptof a different identification device corresponding to a different scriptdevice of a web file or if directed by rule policies 111 stored in thememory for the database 110, as later further described).

The message server device 102 includes the configuration device 117. Theconfiguration device 117 is a hardware device(s) or software program(s)stored in memory of the message server device 102, or combinations ofsuch software and hardware. The configuration device 117 operatesresponsive to the script writer 114 creating the message server script116 a on receipt of the identification device 126, and also operatesresponsive to direction of the extension handler 112 on receipt of anycall device 138. On creation of the message server script 116 a by thescript writer 114, the configuration device 117 processes the messageserver script 116 a and performs a look-up in the database 110 accordingto rule policies 111 of the database 110 and as dictated by processingof the message server script 116 a. The configuration device 117 obtainsa report of results of the look-up in the database 110. Data of thereport is transformed by the configuration device 117 to create amessage device 136. The configuration device 117 directs the messageserver device 102 to communicate the message device 136 over the network104 to the browser device 118.

The message device 136 is, for example, a program stored in memory ofthe message server device 102. On communication and receipt of themessage device 136 by the browser device 118, the message device 136 isstored in memory and processed by the browser 119 in lieu of the scriptdevice 124 (or, as may be applicable in alternatives, in addition to thescript device 124). In certain embodiments, the message device 136 is ascript program stored in memory, such as a Flash (.swf) file (or othersmall file) embedded in JavaScript and processed by the browser 119. Themessage device 136 is stored in memory upon receipt by the browserdevice 118 (via the browser 119) from the message server device 102. Thebrowser device 118 receives the message device 136 automatically, in thebackground processing by the browser 119, after the browser 119 hasdownloaded the website file containing the script device 124 and thecorresponding identification device 126 has been returned to the messageserver device 102, and as the website of the website file loads fordisplay in the browser 119. The message device 136 is concealed duringprocessing in the browser 119; except that the message device 136 can,but need not necessarily, include a message file 142 which represents amessage displayable in the website of the website file as part of thewebsite. The browser 119 continues processing the message device 136through the browsing session of the browser device 118, including duringvisit of any different or additional websites and/or other actions atthe browser device 118 or of the browser 119 while operating in thebrowsing session.

During processing of the message device 136 by the browser 119 of thebrowser device 118, the message device 136 (according to design per themessage server script 116 a for the browser 119 and web file of thescript device 124, the database 110 and rule policies 111 for thewebsite corresponding to the web file of the script device 124, and theconfiguration device 117) selectively captures additional identifiersfor the browser 119 and the browser device 118. The additionalidentifiers can include, for example, website/URL/URI logs andhistories, action flags or activities occurring at the browser 119and/or the browser device 118, keywords or other specific data input toor residing with the browser 119 or browser device 118, furthergeographic locators, and/or other information relevant to the browser119 or activities of the browser device 118.

During processing of the message device 136, the message device 136intermittently (or continuously, periodically or as otherwiseprogrammed) transforms at least certain of the additional identifiers toconstruct one or more of the call device 138. The call device 138 (andeach of them) is a file stored in memory which can be communicated overthe network 104 and includes one or more unique campaign article 140representing the additional identifiers. Because each call device 138created by the message device 136 includes the unique campaignarticle(s) 140, and will thereby correspond to particular one(s) of theadditional identifiers, each call device 138 may differ in structure,such as per timing of creation, status or state of the browser 119and/or browser device 118 at creation, activities which have occurredfor the browser 119 and/or browser device 118 leading to creation,and/or other aspect(s) of actions, flags, states or indicators of theparticular browser 119 and the browsing device 118 (according toparticulars of the message device 136). The message device 136 causesthe browser 119 to communicate each created call device 138 over thenetwork 104 to the message server device 102.

The call device 138 (and each of them) received by the message serverdevice 102 over the network 104 from the browser 119 is detected andparsed by the extension handler 112 for any campaign article(s) 140. Theconfiguration device 117 operates responsive to the extension handler112 on receipt of the call device 138, to process the message serverscript 116 a, per the campaign article(s) 140 as input, and perform alook-up in the database 110. According to rule policies 111 of thedatabase 110 and as dictated by processing of the message server script116 a with the campaign article 140 from the call device 138, theconfiguration device 117 obtains a report of the look-up and transformsthe report to create a message file 142. The message file 142 is datastored in memory representing a message displayable by the browser 119.The configuration device 117 directs the message server device 102 tocommunicate the message file 142 over the network 104 to the browserdevice 118. The browser 119 of the browser device 119 receives themessage file 142 and displays the message corresponding to the messagefile 142 in, and appearing as part of, the then-current website at thebrowser 119.

The message server device 102 also includes or communicatively accessesthe database 110. The database 110 is a relational database, such as arelational database program stored in memory of the message serverdevice 102. The database 110 contains pluralities of files 110 a, 110 b(e.g., file_(A), file_(B), etc.), each of the files corresponding to andrepresentable as a particular distinct message file 142 processable bythe browser 119. As previously mentioned, the database 110 also contains(or is organized or controlled by) a series of rule policies 111 storedin memory. These rule policies 111 are logic circuits, programs storedin memory, or combinations of these, programmed as a series of “IF . . .: YES . . . (file_(#)), NO (next IF)” cascades, for example:

-   -   IF₁ . . . : YES (file_(A)) or NO (go to IF₂);    -   IF₂ . . . : YES (file_(B)) or NO (go to IF₃);    -   IF₃ . . . : YES (file_(C)) or NO (go to IF₄);    -   IF₄ . . . : YES (file_(D)) or NO (go to IF₅);    -   . . . and so on.

These “IF . . . , YES/NO” cascades are pre-programmed for the database110. In certain embodiments, the cascades are selected (such as from amenu of the message server device 102) by an operator of a websitesubscribing to obtain service of the system 100, as later furtherdescribed. Although a simple cascade is above described, as will becomeapparent throughout, a wide variety of types and cascading of logicaldeterminations, branching, and operations are programmable orconfigurable as the rule policies of the system 100, and all areincluded in the embodiments herein.

The rule policies 111 for a particular website serviced by the system100 are set by prior input to and storage in the database 110. Eachparticular website serviced by the system 100, for example, can be setwith unique rule policies 111 for the website. In certain embodiments,the message server device 102 is accessible to an operator of a websiteto be serviced by the system 100, via an account set-up website (notshown in FIG. 1) of the message server device 102. The account set-upwebsite allows the operator to register an account for receivingtargeted message serving of the system 100 in the operator's website.During account set-up, the website operator can input desired rulepolicies 111 for the account, such as via a graphical interface of theaccount set-up website of the message server device 102. Alternately,rule policies 111 can be preprogrammed or otherwise stored or accessedby the message server device 102, with the same rule policies 111applicable to all (or particular ones or sets of) websites serviced bythe system 100. Other account set-up alternatives, as well as otherschemes for rule policies, are possible in the embodiments.

In operation, the browser 119 of the browser device 118 downloads tomemory of the browser device 118 a web file for a website serviced bythe system 100. The web file is, for example, accessed from a web server(not shown in FIG. 1) via communication of the browser 119 over thenetwork 104. The web file, assuming service is provided to the websiteoperator by the system 100 for the website, includes the script device124. The browser 119 processes the script device 124 during processingand display of the website corresponding to the web file. Duringprocessing and display, the script device 124 detects certain features,attributes, and operations of the browser device 118 and the browser119. For example, the script device 124 detects a network address of thebrowser device 118 on the network 104, an identity of the websiteaccessed, browser log data, geographic or locational tags for thebrowser device 118, and/or other information or data unique to thebrowser device 118 and/or the browser 119.

The script device 124 operating in the browser 119 processes thedetected information or data, and generates the identification device126. In certain embodiments, the identification device 126 includes alocation article 128 representing a communicative address on the network104 for the browser device 118 (e.g., an IP address) and/or otherattributes of the browser device 118 (e.g., operational features,elements, and/or other details of the browser device), as determined bythe script device 124. The identification device 126 also includes aroute article 130, according to protocol and format applicable to thenetwork 104, for controlling the browser 119 and browser device 118 inrouting communication of the identification device 126 on the network104 to the message server device 102. The script device 124 then directsthe browser 119 to communicate the identification artifact 126 over thenetwork 104 to the message server device 102 at its communicativeaddress represented by the route article 130.

The message server device 102 receives the identification device 126from the network 104. The extension handler 112 detects theidentification device 126 so received, parses the identification device126 for portions for the script writer 114 representing unique data orinformation of the browser 119 and browser device 118, and inputs theparsed result to the script writer 114.

The script writer 114 receives the input parsed result of theidentification device 126 from the extension handler 112 and generatesthe message server script device 116 a which is stored in the scriptstorage 116. During processing by the script writer 114, the scriptwriter 114 performs a look-up in the database 110 for the rule policies111 for the particular the script device 124 (i.e., the particularwebsite) and corresponding to the parsed result of the identificationdevice 126 representing the browser 119 and browser device 118. Thescript writer 114 obtains a report of the look-up result and creates themessage server script device 116 a. The message server script device 116a stored in script storage 116 represents the rule policies 111 for thewebsite (i.e., of the script device 124) and unique attributes of thebrowser 119 and browser device 118 of the identification device 126. Themessage server script device 116 a, thus, represents particular detailsof the browser 119 and browser device 118, as detected at the browser119 by the script device 124 and communicated to the message serverdevice 102 per the identification device 126, and also represents therule policies 111 of the database 110 for the particular website of thescript device 124 at the browser 119. Although particulars of themessage server script device 116 a depend on the certain identificationdevice 126 and rule policies 111 of the database 110, and therefore canwidely vary in form for any browser and web file serviced by the system100, an example of the message server script device 124 includes programstored in memory which on processing with input of variables guidessearching of the database 110 for select files 110 a, b (etc.) per therule policies 111. The input variables for the message server scriptdevice 124 can include, for example, a campaign article 140 (or datarepresenting it) of a call device 138 (as later described) and a counter(e.g., representing sequence of each next call device 138 received, aslater described).

On storage of the message server script device 116 a, the script writer114 directs the configuration device 117 to create the message device136. The configuration device 117 processes the message server scriptdevice 116 a and transforms it creating the message device 136. Duringprocessing by the configuration device 117, the message server scriptdevice 116 a is translated to the message device 136 stored in memory,the message device 136 being processable by the browser 119 andcommunicatable over the network 104. The message device 136 can, butneed not necessarily, include one or more message file 142. If anymessage file 142 is included in the message device 136, as dictated bythe message server script device 116 a and the rule policies 111 of thedatabase 110 (as set for any particular website serviced), theconfiguration device 117 performs a look-up in the database 110 for oneor more of the file 110 a (or 110 b, or both, etc.) representing aunique message displayable in the browser 119 in the website of thescript device 124. The configuration device 117 then directs the messageserver device 102 to communicate the message device 136 over the network104 for receipt by the browser 119.

On receiving the message device 136 by the browser device 118, themessage device 136 is stored in memory and processed by the browser 119.The browser displays any message corresponding to the message file 142(if any) included in the message device 136. The browser 119 otherwisecontinues processing the message file 142 in the background (i.e.,without display) during the browsing session of the browser 119 and thebrowser device 118.

During processing of the message file 142 by the browser 119, themessage device 136 detects (and/or logs) detail or informationrepresenting activity, input, accessed website identities, websiteinteraction, state and/or other flags or information of the browser 119and browser device 118. The message device 136 also can, from time totime as per the message device 136, generate one or more call device 138in response to such detected activity or information of the browser 119and browser device 118. Each such call device 138 includes the one ormore campaign article 140 representing certain of the detected activityor information of the browser 119 and browser device 118. The messagedevice 136 directs the browser 119 to communicate the call device 138(and each of the call devices, as the case may be) over the network 104to the message server device 102.

On receiving any call device 138 by the message server device 102, theextension handler 112 detects receipt of the call device 138, parses thecall device 138 for any campaign article 140, and inputs informationrepresenting the campaign article 140 to the configuration device 117.The configuration device 117 processes the message server script device116 a (i.e., corresponding to the script device 124) with theinformation of the campaign article 140 to perform a look-up in thedatabase 110 per the rule policies 111 and corresponding to the campaignarticle 140. The configuration device 117 obtains the file 110 a (and/or110 b, etc.) of the database 110, as per the message server scriptdevice 116 a and rule policies 111, for the campaign article 140 for thebrowser 119. The configuration device 117 transforms the file 110 a (orother, as applicable) to the message file 142 representing the file 110a, and communicates the web file 142 to the browser device 118.

The browser 119 of the browser device 118 receives, stores in memory andprocesses the message file 142 displaying a message represented by themessage file 142. The message displayed by the browser 119 appearsincluded in and as part of the website then being displayed by thebrowser 119. Because the message file 142 corresponds to the campaignarticle 140 of the call device 138 that was previously received by themessage server device 102 from the browser 119, the particular messagethat is displayed from the message file 142 is uniquely targeted to thebrowser 119 and the browser device 118. For example, if the messagedevice 136 processed in the browser 119 had previously detected akeyword of “car” input to a search engine or access to an auto websiteduring the browsing session, the call device 138 could have indicatedthis activity to the message server device 102 via the campaign article140 of the call device 138. Moreover in the example, if the call device138 was the first such one received by the message server device 102,the configuration device 117, through processing the message serverscript device 116 a and under the rule policies 111, may generate andcommunicate to the browser 119 one of the message file 142 representinga message displayed by the browser 119 regarding automobiles (or buy itnow, or a discount) or any of a wide variety of other possibilitiesaccording to the files 110 a,b, etc. of the database 110.

In any event, as a browsing session continues by the browser 119, thebrowser 119 continues to process the message device 136. The operationproceeds with the processing, detection, call device 138 generation atthe browser 119 and browser device 118, with subsequent receiving,processing and database 110 look-up, and communication of next messagefile 142 by the message server device 102. The browser 119 processes anddisplays each next message file 142 received from the message serverdevice 102, and respective message(s) represented by each such nextmessage file 142 are displayed by the browser 119 as included in andpart of the website then-being displayed by the browser 119.

Although, at times, the call device 138 and the message file 142 mayeach be addressed herein as a single element, the embodimentscontemplate and can include pluralities of different ones of the calldevice 138 and of the message file 142. Each call device 138communicated by the browser device 118 can include unique one or morecampaign articles 140, as dictated by determinations/detections ofactions, features, states and other attributes of the message device 136processed by the browser 119. Each message file 142, because dependenton unique campaign articles 140 of each different call device 138, mayalso be unique because of the rule policies 111, files 110 a,b (etc.) ofthe database 110, and message server script device 116 a correspondingto the original web file processed by the browser 119 containing thescript device 124. The rule policies 111, files 110 a,b (etc.) of thedatabase 110, and the message server script device 116 a correspondingto a particular web file processed by the browser 119 containing thescript device 124 are hereafter sometimes collectively referred to asthe “unique server elements” for the web file, website and websiteoperator.

Moreover, the embodiments contemplate and include in alternatives a widevariety of types of browsers and browser devices, and can includepluralities of such browsers and browser devices accessing more than onedifferent web file/website of the same or respective different ones ofthe unique server elements. Each browser and/or browser device may haveor include distinct and unique location, operations, features,activities or actions, states, and other characteristics. A browserprocessing a script device for a particular website communicates to themessage server device 102 unique information of the particular browserand browser device; and this information can (and usually will) differfrom browser/browser device to different browser/browser device. Becausethe message server script device 116 a is created by the configurationdevice 117 to be unique for each respective browser/browser devicecombination, according to location, browser/browser devicecharacteristics, particular website of the script device, and (ifaccording to the embodiment) other details, pluralities of differentmessage server script devices may be maintained in the script storage116 a for any particular website (and account/operator), and also foreach respective website (and account/operator) serviced by the system100.

Additionally, the embodiments contemplate and include that each website(and account/operator) may correspond to a plurality of different files110 a, 110 b (etc.) of the database 110, and that the same can be thecase for each one of a plurality of websites (and account/operator)serviced by the system 100. The configuration device 117 obtains aselect one (or more) file 110 a, from among one or more for thewebsite/account, to create each message file 142 served to the browser119. Because the campaign article(s) 140 of each call device 138represent the features, attributes, actions, and other characteristicsdetermined by the message device 136 operating in each respectivebrowser/browser device, and the unique server elements correspond to thebrowser/browser device and also the website (and account/operator), themessage file 142 created and served to the browser by the message serverdevice 102 provides a displayed message in the browser of targetedcontent and information relevant to the user of the browser and theuser's interests.

Thus, messages displayed in each browser are targeted for the user'sspecific interests, expected interests, needs, and other desires, asdictated by the browser and browser device characteristics, to providemore optimal selection, delivery and impression for the user.

Targeted Message Serving Methods:

Referring to FIG. 2, a method 200, for example, performed by the system100 of FIG. 1, commences with a step of processing 202 a script deviceby a browser. The script device is, for example, a script program storedin memory, such as a Flash (.swf) file embedded in JavaScript containedin a web file for a web page downloaded from a network by the browser.The step of processing 202 of processing the script program includesdetermining a communicative location for the browser, for example, anetwork address (e.g., IP address or MAC identification) or othercommunicative locator of the browser on the network, and detecting anidentifier representing the particular web file (or website) of thescript device, for example, a URI/URL address or other network locatorfor the website download. The step 202 may, but need not, includeadditional determinations by the script device processed by the browser,as relates to the browser and any computer or other feature of thebrowser.

In a step 204, the script device processed by the browser generates anidentification device, including a location article representing thenetwork address or other locator for the browser on the network andwebsite identifier representing the particular identity of the web file(or website) of the script device. The identification device alsoincludes routing articles for directing the identification device to aparticular server device when communicated over the network. The scriptdevice processed by the browser directs the browser to send theidentification device over the network to the server device in a step206.

In a step 208, the identification device is communicatively received bythe server device. In a step of processing 210 the identification deviceby the server device, the server device detects that the identificationdevice is received and parses the identification device for location andwebsite identities recognizable to the server device. The location andwebsite identities, respectively, represent the browser's networkaddress or other communicative locator and the website accessed by thebrowser corresponding to the script device. A step of searching 212 in adatabase is performed, as directed by the server device, for rulepolicies of the database corresponding to the location and websiteidentities.

The database is, for example, a relational database program stored inmemory and including rule policies and file articles. The file articlesrepresent particular unique messages (or data therefor) for display bythe browser. The rule policies are programmed rules stored in memory,which rules uniquely relate specific file articles for the website ofthe script device. The rule policies, according to desiredconfiguration, can be pre-programmed and stored by the server deviceand/or the server device (or the server operator) can allow eachdifferent website (or the website operator) serviced by the method 200to dictate some or all of the stored rule policies applicable for thewebsite and particular browser, in each instance. As mentioned inconnection with the system 100 of FIG. 1, in certain exampleembodiments, a website operator desiring service by the method 200, canaccess an account website (if available) for the server device, in orderto set up an account for receiving service by the method 200 for aparticular website of the website operator. If the website operatorregisters an account and includes the script device in the web file forthe website, any browser viewing the website will process the scriptdevice and receive messages displayed in the browser during the browsingsession via the method 200 in embodiments.

One or more rule policies resulting from the searching step 212 isobtained by the server device in a step 214 for the website and browser.The server device processes the rule policies so obtained, in a step ofprocessing 216. In the step of processing 216, a message server scriptdevice, for example, a PHP script stored in memory, unique to theidentification device and thus the browser (and its location andcharacteristics), is created by the server device corresponding to theapplicable rule policies. The message server script device is saved andstored in memory a step 218.

In a step 222, the server device creates a message device. The messagedevice is, for example, a script program stored in memory, such as aFlash (.swf) file embedded in JavaScript contained in the website of thescript device, which was communicated over the network to the browser.In certain alternatives, such as if dictated by the server device perits configuration for any particular website serviced by the method 200,the method 200 may additionally include a step 220 of creating a messagefile by the server device. The step 220 is performed in conjunction withthe steps 216, 218 and/or 222, in such alternative. For example, if rulepolicies of the database and/or configuration of the server device sodictate, the message file created in the step 220 is communicated to thebrowser in the step 223 with (or incorporated in, as the case may be)the message device. Any (and each, as applicable) such message file is ascript stored in memory, such as a Flash (.swf) file (or other smallfile) representing a message displayable by the browser. The particularmessage file represents those file articles of the database whichcorrespond to the rule policies and message server script device for thewebsite and browser. Thus, the message file is uniquely relevant to theparticular browser and website. The message file is stored in memory onreceipt by the browser, and processed by the browser to display auniquely targeted message relevant to interests of the user of thebrowser, as in steps 224, 226 and 228 of the method, now described.

The browser, in a step 224, receives the message device communicated bythe server device in the step 223 (and, if applicable, any message filealso communicated). The browser processes the message device (togetherwith any message file, applicable) in a step 226. If the message deviceprocessed in the step 226 includes any message file, the browserdisplays a message represented by the message file in a step 228, forexample, an output screen of the browser shows the message as agraphical, textual, and or other display of information, media or othercontent, appearing as part of and included in the web page viewed on theoutput screen.

The browser continues to perform the step of processing 226 the messagedevice during the browsing session of the browser (even while other webpages and websites are viewed, or as otherwise applies per configurationof the particular message device). During the step of processing 226,the message device detects usage, activities, logs and other eventsoccurring in the browser, including, for example, select interactivitywith the message or browser and other features representingcharacteristics and operations of the browser, communicative link,message interactivity, and history or logs. In response to suchdetection by the message device, the message device, in a step 230,selectively (e.g., periodically, upon particular event, or otherwise perthe message device) generates a call device. The call device (and eachof them as may be generated by the message device, from time to time)includes campaign articles representing select ones (or aggregations) ofparticular and unique features and data of the events, parameters, andother characteristics detected by the message device. In a step 232, thebrowser's processing of the message device directs the browser tocommunicatively send the call device to the server device.

In a step 219, the server device receives the call device communicatedby the browser. In response to the step 219, the server device, in astep 220, detects the call device as received and parses the call devicefor identifiers representing the campaign articles. Further in the step220, the server device processes the message server script for thebrowser and original website of the script device, with inputs of theidentifiers so parsed from the call device, performs a look-up in thedatabase for one or more files according to the processed message serverscript device and rule policies of the database for the originalwebsite, and generates a next message file. This next message filerepresents the database search result in view of the campaign articlesof the call device, as well as the particular features per theparticular message server script device for the browser and rulepolicies for the original website. The message file is a next scriptstored in memory, for example, again another Flash (.swf) file stored inmemory, representing a relevant message displayable by the browser.Because the creating step 220 is guided by the call device and themessage server script device, each unique for the particular browser andoriginal website of the script device, such next message file representsa selectively targeted message for the specific browser and the browseruser's particular interests. In a step 234, the server devicecommunicates the message file over the network to the browser.

The browser receives the message file in a step 236. In a step ofprocessing 238 by the browser, the browser stores in memory andprocesses the message file. In a step 228, the browser displays (orotherwise outputs or employs) a next message represented by the messagefile. In certain embodiments, the step of displaying 228 portrays thetargeted content message in a window of a browser program stored inmemory and running on the browser, as a graphical, textual and/or othermedia or content message in a select location of a web page thenappearing in the window. The message appears on display as if includedin and as part of the website. The method 200 continues during thebrowsing session of the browser, or as otherwise designed per themessage device, by repeating the steps 226, 228, 230, 232, 219, 220, and234, as per design, for display by the browser of any next message(s)according to the steps.

In certain alternatives, the method 200 can, but need not necessarily,include one or more of a step of creating 240 a next different messageserver script device to correspond to the original website of the scriptdevice and the particular browser for purposes of steps by the serverdevice in delivering message files to the browser. In the step 240, forexample, a change to the rule policies of the database, such as a changeto programmed priority of the rule policies of the database made by theserver device (such as by an operator of the server device or, ifallowed per design of the server device, an operator of the websiteserviced by the method 200 through a web interface to the server device,or otherwise), may initiate the server device to create and store inmemory a replacement (or additional or modified) message server scriptdevice for the operator's website and particular browser. In otherexamples of the step 240, design of the server device or programs storedin memory may provide logical operations to be performed by the serverdevice or database to vary the rule policy priorities or change theparticular rule policies that may apply. Even further, in the step 240,certain example embodiments may provide alternate rule policies to beautomatically or selectively invoked, alone or in combination with otherrule policies, such as on occurrence of particular events orcharacteristics of the browser indicated by the then-current or priorcall device (c), history, or other aspects of the method 200 and itssteps. If the step 240 is performed in the method 200, the server devicesaves the new message server script device in the step 218, and thismodified message server script device is thereafter employed in the step220 unless the varying step 240 again occurs. Numerous otheralternatives for the step 240 are possible and included.

After the step of displaying 228 in the method 200 is concluded by thebrowser, several steps are possible. If the browser discontinues thestep 226 of processing the message device, then the step of displaying228 the targeted content message terminates, the message device will notdetect browser actions and events, and additional messages will notthereafter be displayed; unless, the method 200 again commences with thestep 226. So long as the browser continues the step 226 of processingthe message device, for example, while the message device remains storedin memory of the browser (such as during the continued browsing sessionby the browser), the method 200 selectively returns to the step 230, forexample, after a period of time during the processing step 226, after aperiod of time during the displaying step 228, upon select or desiredevent or occurrence at the browser or in connection with operations ofthe browser as detected by the message device, or on other event ordetection according to preference set in design of the message deviceand the method 200.

One such other event according to preference in design of the messagedevice includes a step of interacting 229 with the message. If themessage device processed by the browser detects an interaction with thedisplayed message in the step 229, then the method 200, if the messagedevice then so directs, may return to the step 230 to generate a nextcall device representing the interaction, as well as any other detectedinformation of the browser and usage applicable per the message device.A user input to the browser, by mouse click or other device (or evenhovering the mouse cursor over the message or similar act), is anexample of such an interaction in the step 229. In such event of thestep 229, the call device resulting from the step of generating 230 can,for example, include campaign articles of the call device representingthe detected interaction of the step 229.

The method 200 then continues, returning to the steps of sending thecall device 232 by the browser, receiving the call 219 by the serverdevice, generating a message file 220 by the server device (viaprocessing of the applicable message server script device and look-up inthe database according to the rule policies), sending the message file234 by the server device, receiving the message file 236 by the browser,processing the message file 238 by the browser, and, as applicable,displaying a message 228 represented by the message file. The method 200repeats in such manner for so long as the message device is processed bythe browser in the step 226, for example, for so long as the messagedevice is retained in memory of the browser (such as for the duration ofthe browsing session or as otherwise per the message device stored inthe browser). As previously described, messages displayed are uniquelytargeted to the particular browser and its characteristics and events,because of the detection via the message device processed by the browserand the communication of each call device representing the detection foruse by the server device to serve each next message file. Moreover, themessage device processed by the browser continues operating, even asdifferent web pages, websites, and other browsing is performed. Themessages are displayed by the browser, via the message device soprocessed, in any website displayed by the browser (i.e., the originalwebsite of the script device, as well as other websites browsed) andappear as included in and part of the websites.

Targeted Message Serving in a Website Network System:

Referring to FIG. 3, a network system 300 for serving targeted contentmessages includes a message server 302, a web server 304, and a client306, communicatively connected by a communications network 308. Themessage server 302 includes or communicatively connects to a database310.

The web server 304 is a communicative server device responsive toreceived communicated requests over the network 308 from other networkeddevices, such as the client 306. The web server 304, for example, is aserver computer or other processing and communication device having orcommunicatively connected to a web server processor 312 and memory 314.The web server 304 includes or connects to one or more Ethernet adapter,modem, other network connector, or similar communication port orconnector (not shown in FIG. 3), for communicative connection to thenetwork 308.

The web server 304 includes a website generator 316, for example, awebsite program stored in memory 314 controlled by the web serverprocessor 312. The website generator 316 produces a website (or webpage) file 318, such as by look-up in a website database (not shown inFIG. 3) for files and data corresponding to a website viewable in abrowser program and accessible from the web server 304 on requestreceived from the network 308. The website file 318 includes features320, such as hypertext markup language (HTML), extensible markuplanguage (XML), codes, text, graphics, audio, video, multimedia and/orsimilar files or data, and also includes a script device 322, such as,for example, the script device 124 of the system 100 of FIG. 1 or thescript device of the method 200 of FIG. 2. In certain exemplaryembodiments, the script device 322 is a program stored in memory, forexample, a Flash (.swf) file embedded in JavaScript contained in thewebsite file 318 and stored in memory, for processing by a browserprogram, in embedded form, when processing and viewing a websitecorresponding to the website file 318. The website file 318 (includingthe script device 322) is shown in FIG. 3 in transit duringcommunication by the web server 304 over the network 308, in response toa request by the client 306 for a website corresponding to the websitefile 318.

The client 306 is a communicative device capable of communicatingrequest for the website file 318 and receiving download of the websitefile 318 from the web server 304 over the network 308. The client 306can also communicate with the message server 302 over the network 308.The client 306, for example, is a networked computer, such as a desktop,laptop, netbook, smart phone, data cell phone, personal digitalassistant, or other processing and communication device, including aclient processor 308 and memory 310, capable of requesting anddownloading the website file 318 over the network 308. The client 306may include, for example, various elements, such as a web browser 362(e.g., a web browser program stored in memory) and a display 364, aswell as various input and output devices, storage, other peripherals,and other components or connected devices (not shown). In certainexemplary embodiments, the client 306 processes the web browser programstored in memory to download the website file 318 from the web server304. For example, a URL for a website represented by the website file318 is input in browser 362 or browser program, a request for thewebsite file 318 is communicated by the client 306 to the web server304, the web server 304 communicates the website file 318 to the client306, and the browser 362 creates a graphic browser window 366 in thedisplay 364 to output the applicable website. The script device 322 ofthe website file 318 is processed by the browser 362, and is maintainedembedded and not displayed in the website shown in the browser window366.

In processing the script device 322 by the client 306 (e.g., via thebrowser 362 on receipt of the website file 318 representing the website,and rendering display of the website in the display 364), the scriptdevice 322 detects a communicative address, such as an IP address of thenetwork 308 or other locator, for the client 306 operating the browser362 and an identifier of the website file 318, such as a UniformResource Locator (URL) address link. The script device 322 also createsan identification artifact 324, comprised of a location article 326, aroute article 328, and a referrer article 330. The location article 326represents the communicative address for the client 306. The routearticle 328 represents a communicative address for the message server302. The referrer article 330 represents an identifier of the websitefile 318, which may be traced by the message server 302 to the webserver 304 (e.g., an IP address of the message server 302, anidentification of the website represented by the website file 318 orother identifier), and may also contain other files or data representingparticular features, actions, or information of the browser 362 and/orclient 306 detected by the script device 322. The script device 322directs the client 306 (e.g., via operation of the browser 362) toautomatically send the identification artifact 324 over the network 308to the message server 302.

The message server 302 is a communicative server device responsive toreceived communicated requests over the network 308 from other networkeddevices, such as the client 306 communication of the identificationartifact 324. The message server 304, for example, is a server computeror other processing and communication device having or communicativelyconnected to a message server processor 332, memory 334, an extensionhandler 336, a script writer 338, a messaging script program storage340, and a message file configuration device 341. The message server 304also includes or communicatively connects to a message database 342. Themessage server 304 includes or connects to one or more Ethernet adapter,modem, other network connector, or similar communication port orconnector (not shown in FIG. 3), for communicative connection to thenetwork 308.

Each of the extension handler 336, the script writer 338, and theconfiguration device 341 of the message server 302 is a hardwaredevice(s), program(s) stored in memory, or combinations of these. Theextension handler 336 is, for example, a script handler program storedin memory 314, such as a JavaScript extension handler program in memory.The script writer 338 is, for example, a PHP script builder programstored in memory 314. The extension handler 336 detects anycommunications received by the message server 302 over the network 308comprising the identification artifact 324, parses the identificationartifact 324, and inputs data to the script writer 338 obtained from theparse representing the communicative address for the client 306 (i.e.,per the location article 326) and the identifier of the website file 318containing the script device 322 (i.e., per the referrer article 330).The script writer 338, based on the inputs, creates a message scriptdevice 344 corresponding to the particular identification artifact 324and as per prioritization rules of the database 342. The script writer338 stores the message script device 344 in the messaging script programstorage 340.

After the message script device 344 is stored for the particular client306 and browser 362, the script writer 338 creates a message device 346and communicates it to the client 306. The message device 346 is storedin memory and processed by the browser 362 of the client 306. Themessage device 346 detects events and states of the browser 362 andclient 306, and generates and communicates call article 348 in responseduring the browsing session. The message server 302 receives therespective call articles 348 and delivers respective targeted messagesto the client 306 for display by the browser 362 in websites viewed inthe display 364. Certain features of an exemplary database 400, such asan example of the database 342, are now described.

Referring to FIG. 4, in conjunction with FIG. 3, the exemplary database400 is a relational database, for example, a relational databasesoftware program stored in memory. The database 400 includes aprioritizer 402 and at least four bins 404: a campaign bin 406, awebsites bin 408, a message bin 410, and a log bin 412. The prioritizer402 connects to the bins 404. The prioritizer 402, via a processor, suchas, for example, the message server processor 332, controls therespective bins 404, and bin constituents as hereafter described, inrelative priorities and relationships among and between the bins 404.

The campaign bin 406 maintains at least one campaign folder 414, forexample, campaign folders 414 a, b, etc. Each campaign folder 414 a orb, etc., relates to a particular website(s) (and web file 318 containingthe script device 322) serviced by the system 300, for purpose ofserving messages to client(s) 306 retrieving the website(s). Forexample, campaign folder 414 a corresponds to the web file 318 forwebsite_(#1) and campaign folder 414 b corresponds to a different webfile (not shown in FIG. 3) for website_(#2) (such as the website of awebsite operator or source different from that of website_(#1)). Eachcampaign folder 414 a or b maintains at least one campaign file 416 a,b,etc. Each campaign file 416 a and b, etc., relates to the particularcampaign folder 414 a and, thus, the particular website (i.e.,website_(#1) and the website file 318 in the example). Each campaignfile 416 a or b, etc., of a particular campaign folder 414 a or b,maintains a particular set of one or more message tags 418 a,b,c,d(etc.). Each message tag 418 a, b, c, and d represents a particularmessaging focus relevant to the particular website (e.g., website_(#1)and the website file 318 in the example) serviced by the system 300, forthe respective campaign file 416. In the example in FIGS. 3 and 4,website_(#1) corresponding to the web file 318 is available from aparticular source (such as a website operator) and regards products ofthe source, such as automobiles for sale by the source. The message tags418 a-d for the website_(#1) represent information for automobiles, suchas: the message tags 418 a represent keywords or words of UniformResource Identifiers (URIs) for the website and subjects related to thecontent of website_(#1) (such as keywords that might be searched by abrowser looking for autos, metatags or ads relevant to autos, or termsin a URI relevant to autos); the message tags 418 b represent UniformResource Locator (URLs) addresses for related, competitor or otherwebsites for autos; the message tags 418 c represent identifiableregions, cities, states, or other geographic and/or network orcommunicative locations of respective browsers which may view thewebsite_(#1); and the message tags 418 d represent historicalviewing/searching or other visit information which may apply to browsersviewing or having viewed the website_(#1) (e.g., viewed twice or firstvisit, etc.).

The website bin 408 maintains elements representing web servers servicedby the system 300, such as the web server 304. The website bin 408includes (or connects) for each web server served by the system 300 toat least one site folder 420. Each respective site folder 420corresponds to a particular web server, and represents a set of one ormore identifiers of the web server. For example, the website bin 408includes a site folder 420 a for the web server 304 containing a network(e.g., IP) address of the web server 304, customer number for the webserver 304, or other attributes or data of the web server 304 stored inmemory. Each site folder 420 connects to or includes one or more sitefile 422. As an example, in the case of the particular web server 304,the site file 422 is a set of tokens representing the particular webserver 304 for relational operations of the database 400, each tokenrepresenting a unique feature of the web server 304, such as identity ofthe web server 304 or the website sourced therefrom.

The message bin 410 maintains message elements, and includes or connectsto at least one message folder 424. Each message folder 424 is asoftware program stored in memory representing a feature of a message,such as, for example, a text, image or media software file or portionstored in memory. For example, the message bin 410 includes a messagefolder 424 a representing certain elements of messages to be served bythe system 300 for the website_(#1) accessible from the web server 304.Each message folder 424 can, but need not necessarily, include orconnect to one or more message file 426. Each message file 426 is anelement stored in memory employed by the connected message folder 424,for example, a text, graphic, or other feature for the message folder424. Each message file 426 can additionally include or connect to one ormore message items, such as other or further digital file(s) stored inmemory, for example, a logo, picture, text, punctuation, or other item.

The log bin 412 maintains account elements stored in memory forrespective web servers receiving messaging services from the system 300.The log bin 412 includes (or connects) to at least one log folder 428.Each log folder 428 is an account ledger stored in memory for aparticular web server, for example, a historical site visits record, adaily record, a cumulative record, a payment account, an invoiceaccount, rule items established for the web server or website from theweb server, and other similar records related to the particular webserver. For example, the log bin 412 includes a log folder 428 arepresenting account records for the web server 304 (and thewebsite_(#1)) stored in memory for the web server 304 (and same forother web servers, as applicable, serviced by the system 300). Each logfolder 428 can, but need not necessarily, additionally include orconnect to one or more log files 430, such as digital file(s) oftransactions, interactivity with messages, schedules for messages andoperations, and other items for the particular web server andcorresponding to particular log criteria.

Referring to FIG. 5, in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 4, a method 500 isperformed by the message server 302 in response to receiving theidentification artifact 324, to create and store the message scriptdevice 344. Once the client 306 retrieves the website file 318containing the script device 322 and processes the script device 322 inthe browser 362 to generate and communicate the identification artifact324, the method 500 commences with a step 502 of the message server 302receiving the identification artifact 324. In a step 504, the extensionhandler 336 detects the identification artifact 324 and parses it toobtain the location article for the client and browser and theidentifier of the website file 318 (or data in memory representingthese). In a step 506, the script writer 338 receives the locationarticle and the identifier (or representative data) and performs alook-up in the database 400 relative to the location article and theidentifier of the website. The script writer 338, in a step 508,additionally determines priority rules of the prioritizer 402, as wellas the particular bins 404 and bin constituents (e.g., campaign folder414 a and site folder 420 for the website file 318 and web server 304,as well as related files 416 a,b and message tags 418 c, etc.), relativeto the location article and identifier of the website. In a step 510,the script writer 338 receives results of the steps 506 and 508. Thescript writer 338, in a step 512, builds the corresponding messagescript device 344 from the results. The message script device 344 is,for example, a PHP script program stored in memory. The script writer338 stores the message script device 314 in the messaging script programstorage 340 in a step 514.

In a certain particular example of the method 500, for instance, alook-up in the database 400 is directed by the script writer 338 inrespect of the location article for the client 306 and the identifier ofthe website_(#1) in the steps 506-510. The script writer 338 initiatesthe prioritizer 402 for the location article and identifier. In theexample, the prioritizer 402, according to programming preference (suchas to achieve a desired advertising objective of the website operator)can, first, select in the step 508 that look-up proceed initially inrespect of the referrer article 330 (i.e., representing the identifierof the website_(#1)) in the site bin 406. If the site bin 406, or itsconstituents (e.g., site folder 420 a or site file 422 a, etc.), hasrelation to the referrer article 330, then the relations are nextcross-checked in look-up for the location article 326, such as in thesite bin 408 or, alternately, in another of the bins 404, such as thecampaign bin 406. If no relation is found in the step 508, the method500 returns to the selecting step 508 and the prioritizer 508, second,selects that look-up proceed in respect of the location article 326,such as in the campaign bin 406. If the campaign bin 406, or itsconstituents (e.g., campaign folder 414 a, campaign file 416 a, and/orcampaign tag 418 c), has relation to the location article 326, then therelations are next cross-checked in look-up for the referrer article330, such as in the campaign bin 406 or, alternately, in another of thebins 404, such as the site bin 408. Various examples of possible relatedconstituents of the database 400 are indicated by lines A-F, and theprioritizer 402, in each instance, as directed by the script writer 338,dictates preferential ordering of look-up in the database 400 in themethod 500. A wide variety of possible priority/preference orders arepossible, in keeping with design of the system 300 and website operatorobjectives, therefore, this particular operation is merely an example ofpossible prioritization and others are possible.

Referring back to FIG. 3, in conjunction with FIGS. 4 and 5, in thesystem 300, upon creation and storage of the message script device 344via the method 500, the script writer 338 creates a message device 346corresponding particularly to the message script device 344 at themessage server 302. In certain embodiments, the message device 346 is ascript program stored in memory, for example, such as a Flash (.swf)file (or other small file) embedded in JavaScript and processable by thebrowser 362 of the client 306. The message device 346 is communicated bythe message server 302 to the client 306. At the client 306, the browser362 of the client 306 processes the message device 346, in embedded formand hidden from display. During processing of the message device 346 bythe browser 362 of the client 306, the message device 346 detectsactions and states of the client 306 and browser 362.

The message device 346, because corresponding particularly to themessage script device 344 at the message server 302, further correspondsto applicable prioritization orders and constituents of the database 342for the particular website of the script device 322. Moreover, themessage device 346 additionally corresponds to the particular client 306and browser 362, because created by the script writer 338 toparticularly correspond to the location and website identity representedby the identification artifact 324 received by the message server 302from the client 306. The message device 346 is communicated by themessage server 302 to the client 306, saved in memory of the client 306,and processed by the web browser 362 of the client 306.

During processing of the message device 346 by the web browser 362 ofthe client 306, the message device 346 continues collecting and loggingin memory certain details representing actions and events of the webbrowser 362 and client 306, for example, keywords searched, historicalwebsites visited, market geography, and visits to websites of or relatedto the web server 304 and website file 318. The message device 346, upontrigger according to design of the message device 346, creates a callarticle 348. The call article 348 may include one or more campaignartifact 350, such as, for example, a particular keyword, an interactiveaction detected by the web browser 362, a number, such as site visits ortime-out, or other similar item. Each campaign artifact 350 representsan input parameter corresponding to the particular message script device344 (at the message server 302) for the client 306. The call article 348is communicated, upon occurrence of the trigger, to the message server302, by operation of the message device 346 in the web browser 362.Periodically, and from time to time, one or more call articles 348, eachdiffering as to the one or more campaign artifact 350 representingactions or events as may then be applicable for the browser 362 andclient 306, may be communicated by the message device 346 in thismanner.

Each call article 348 received by the message server 302 over thenetwork 308 from the client 306 is detected by the extension handler 336and prepared for the script writer 338. The script writer 338 processesthe call article 348 (or relevant features or attributes representedthereby for the client 306 and browser 362) via the particular messageserver script 344 for the client 306, browser 362, and website file 318.The script writer 338 directs a look-up in the database 342, such as forconstituents relevant to the browser 362 and client 306 according to thecall article 348, particular message server script 344, and per theprioritizer 402 and rule policies of the database 342 (including, forexample, any message items of the message bin 410 as per the exemplarydatabase 400). Based on look-up results of the database 342, the scriptwriter 338 processes the message server script 344 to create a messageartifact 352, for example, a Flash (.swf) file stored in memory and ofform for communication over the network 308 to the client 306 forprocessing by the browser 362.

The message server 302 communicates the message artifact 352 to theclient 306. On receipt by the client 306, the web browser 362 stores themessage artifact 352 in memory and the message device 346 processes themessage artifact 352 for display as a message. On processing the messageartifact 352, a uniquely targeted content message is displayed in aselect location of the website corresponding to the website file 318, inthe browser window 366 for the website. The message appears in thewebsite as part of and as though included in the website.

Example Embodiment of the Client-Server Network System:

Referring to FIG. 6, in conjunction with FIGS. 3-5, a method 600 ofserving targeted content messages in a client-server network, such asthe network 308 of the system 300 of FIG. 3, includes a step of serving602 a website file, including the script device 322 (for example, thewebsite file 318), by a web server, such as the web server 304, over thenetwork to a web browser, such as the web browser 362 processed by theclient 306. The script device 322 is embedded in the web file and is notdisplayed in a browser window of the web browser, when displaying awebsite corresponding to the website file. An example embodiment of ascript device is a script program stored in memory by the web browser,such as the following:

<script type=“text/javascript” src=“http://statistics.vmdataservices.com/js/smartcontentlaunch- 12gubr157ksx.js?confirmkey=46&requestkey=19”></script>Other script devices, including hardware devices, software programsstored in memory, and combinations, are possible.

The method 600 continues in a step 606 of locationally identifying theweb browser. In the step 606, the web browser processes the scriptdevice 322, detects a communicative address (or other location) of theweb browser and an identity of the website of the script device 322 (orof the web file 318, the web server 304, or other identifier of source),and communicates to a message server the communicative address orlocation, together with the identity of the website (or communicates anarticle or file representing such address/location and identity). Forexample, the web browser processes the script device 322 duringprocessing of the website file by the web browser, and the web browsersends the communicative address, together with an identifier of thewebsite (or representative file or article), to the message server overthe network. The communicative address or location of the web browseris, in certain example embodiments, a file or article representing an IPaddress of the network for the web browser, and the identifier of thewebsite file is, for example, a file or article representing a URL ofthe corresponding website accessible from the web server.

In a step of creating 608, a message script program stored in memory ofthe message server is created by the message server, such as, forexample, via the script writer 338 based on the communicative address ofthe web browser and identity of the website file. The message scriptprogram is created based on direction of the message server and adatabase connected to the message server, for example, the script writer338 (e.g., according to design or configuration of the script writer338) together with the prioritizer 402 and database 400, is a PHP scriptbuilder program stored in memory of the message server and inputparameters to the program represent priorities and constituents of theprioritizer 402 and database 400 and the communicative address andidentity from the web browser. In certain example embodiments, such asin the system 300, the script writer 338 creates a PHP program stored inmemory, which PHP program is based on four basic rules: a URI Rule, aContent Interest Rule, a Market Focus Rule, and a Site Visits Rule. Eachof these rules is an element referred to as the tags 418 of theexemplary database 400 and also has cross-relevance to various otherconstituents of the database 400.

URI Rule:

The URI Rule provides parameters for the creating step 608 related tokeyword/URI tags 418 a for content of message items served and availableto be served by the message server, such as message artifacts, in wholeor part, logos, colors, text, content, configurations for messages invarious types of web browsers, and related items of the exemplarydatabase 400 such as those of the message files 424 and message folders426.

Content Interest Rule:

The Content Interest Rule provides parameters for the creating step 608related to URL addresses tags 418 b of websites of the network, such asaddresses of other websites browsed by the web browser which containparticular data or information, web browser activity as to those otherwebsites, and other aspects of browsing activity, and related items ofthe exemplary database 400 such as those of the website files 420 andwebsite folders 422.

Market Focus Rule:

The Market Focus Rule provides parameters for the creating step 608related to geographic location tags 418 c in respect of communicativeaddress or other locator of the web browser, such as geographical terms,items, website features, network address, and related items of theexemplary database 400 such as those of the campaign files 414, thecampaign folders 416, the website files 420 and the website folders 422.

Site Visits Rule:

The Site Visits Rule provides parameters for the creating step 608related to visit log tags 418 d of the web browser to the website, suchas number of return site visits to the website, historical siteinteractions of the web browser, and similar website- and webbrowser-related items, and related items of the exemplary database 400such as those of the campaign files 414, the campaign folders 416, thewebsite files 420 and the website folders 422, as well as the messagefiles 424, the message folders 426, the log files 428 and the logfolders 430.

These Rules are employed as variables by the script writer 338 to createthe message script program corresponding to the particularidentification article of the web browser, and also to create thecorresponding message device for communication to the web browser inrespect of the particular message script program for the web browser.The Rules are also employed as variables by the configuration device 341in database 400 look-up operations, priorities accorded by theprioritizer 402 and selection of message items of the database 400 to beserved in response to call articles received from the browser.

In a step 610, the message script program is saved in storage of themessage server. The message script program provides all pertinentdetails required for configuration of messages for the client. In a step612, the message script program creates a message device, such as themessage device 346, corresponding to the message script program. Themessage server communicates the message device to the web browser in astep 614. An example embodiment of a message device is a script programstorable in memory by the web browser on receipt from the messageserver, such as the following:

<script type=“text/javascript” language=“JavaScript”>document.write(unescape(“%3Cscriptsrc=‘http://www.getsmartcontent.com/getSmartContent/MacTags.js’type=‘text/javascript’%3E% 3C/script%3E”));document.write(unescape(“%3Cscriptsrc=‘https://www.getsmartcontent.com/getSmartContent/getSmartContentPreLoader22.gif?confirmkey=116&requestkey=67& samp=”+escape(document.referrer)+“&nocag=”+new Date( ).getTime( )+“&new=’type=‘text/javascript’%3E%3C/script%3E”)); </script> <scripttype=“text/javascript” language=“JavaScript”> var hasReqestedVersion =DetectFlashVer (requiredMajorVersion, requiredMinorVersion,requiredRevision); if (hasReqestedVersion) {  document.write(‘<objecttype=“application/x-shockwave-flash” data=“‘+ GSCMhbv +”’ id=“‘+GSCDDname +”’ width=“‘+ GSCWid +”’ height=“‘+ GSCHeig +”’> <paramname=“movie” value=“‘+ GSCMhbv +”’ /> <param name=“allowNetworking”value=“all” /> <param name=“allowScriptAccess” value=“always”/> <paramname=“wmode” value=“transparent” /> <param name=“allowFullScreen”value=“true”/> <param name=“swLiveConnect”value=“true” /> <embed src=“‘+GSCMhbv +”’ wmode=“transparent” allowScriptAccess=“always”></embed></object>’);  } else { document.write(altC); } </script>Other script devices, including hardware devices, software programsstored in memory, and combinations, are possible.

The message device is received by the web browser, stored in memory andprocessed during web browser operations in the browsing session. Themessage device, as processed by the browser, collects and logs detailsof the web browser, such as particular interactivity or action of theweb browser with website(s) and/or other states or detected features.Upon triggering occurrence, according to design of the particularmessage device, the message device automatically directs the web browserto send a call to the message server over the network. The call is filesor articles representing one or more ad campaign artifact 350.

In a step 616, the message server receives one of the calls from the webbrowser. The message server detects the one or more ad campaign artifact350 of the call in a step 618. In a step 620, the message serverlooks-up in the database, such as the exemplary database 400, asdirected by the configuration device 341 for the particular messagescript program for the web browser and original website, to determinerelevant constituents of the database (such as bins 404, folders 414,files 416 and/or message tags 418) corresponding to the one or more adcampaign artifact 350, such as may be further dictated by theprioritizer 402 of the database 400. Based on results of the step 620,the message server in a step 622, for example, via operation of theconfiguration device 341 in the system 300, creates a message artifact,such as the message artifact 352 of the system 300. The message artifactso created, thus, corresponds uniquely to the web browser and website,including, for example, the particular actions, events, states, websitethen viewed, and history, among other detected features, for the webbrowser.

In a step 624, the message artifact is communicated by the messageserver over the network to the web browser. At the web browser, themessage artifact is stored in memory and processed by the web browser toconstruct a message displayed in respect of the particular messageartifact. The message appears as part, and in select location, in theapplicable website then displayed in the browser window of the webbrowser.

The steps 616-624 of call and response with next respective messageartifact are continued for the web browser during the browsing session,or as otherwise dictated per design of the particular message device andthe message script program from the step.

In certain alternatives, the method 600 additionally includes a step 626of varying the message script program 626 by the message server. Thestep 626 is performed, for example, in response to receipt by themessage server of a particular call, which (if the message server is soconfigured) is recognized by the message server as conforming to apre-programmed (or change of program) instruction in memory to initiatea change to the message script program 626 then maintained by themessage server. In the step 626, the message server varies the messagescript program then saved in memory, as per the pre-programmed (orchange of program) instruction in memory. An example of the method 600including the step 626 includes a change made to priority rules of thedatabase or to the prioritizer. Examples of instances in which suchchange may be made include: implementation of different configurationdevice or prioritizer by the message server operator, change to databaseconstituents (such as addition of message items or change to focus ofobjectives for messaging), or other. In certain embodiments, the step626 may be performed because of implementation of change to the messageserver or database by an operator of the message server. In otherembodiments, the step 626 may be performed because of changesimplemented by an operator of a website served by the method 600, suchas the operator of the website inputs changes to a control panel website(provided by the operator of the message server) for the method 600 asto the particular website.

In further operations, the method 600 as to each website serviced by themessage server continues with the step of receiving 616 a next call ofthe respective website, and proceeding through the steps 618, 620, 622,624, and, if applicable, step 626, for each such call.

EXAMPLE

An example of the embodiments is a targeted content message servingprovider. The provider, via a message server and database of theprovider, serves message devices and message artifacts for display oftargeted content messages in websites viewed by a browser from anetwork. An original website serviced by the message serving provider isviewed by the browser by downloading a website file corresponding to theoriginal website. The website file includes a script device (specific tothe message server of the messaging serving provider, and programmed aspart of the website file by the website operator). The website file,including the script device, is stored in memory and processed by thebrowser on download. The script device, as processed by the browser,detects features of the browser for generation of an identificationartifact for the browser. The features detected represent at least acommunicative address or location of the browser and an identity of theoriginal website of the script device. The script device directs thebrowser to send the identification artifact to the message server overthe network.

In response to receiving the identification artifact from the network,the message server creates a respective messaging script stored inmemory for the browser, corresponding to the identification artifact,specifics representing the browser, designed priorities for messaging,database elements, and other programming or features of the messageserver. The message server also creates the message device correspondingto messaging script and communicates the message device over the networkto the browser. The browser receives the message device, stores it inmemory, and processes it.

The message device so processed detects events, states, and activitiesof the browser. Per the particular message device, the message devicedirects the browser (periodically, intermittently, or otherwise per themessage device) to send one or more call, each call representing atleast certain of the detected events, states and activities. The call(s)is communicated over the network to the message server. The messageserver responds to calls of the browser by processing the respectivemessage script for the browser, performs a look-up in the database(including according to priorities or rules applicable to the databaseand constituents of the database), creates one or more message artifactfor each call and unique for to what the call represents of the browser,and serves the one or more message artifact to the browser over thenetwork.

The browser receives the message artifact, stores it, and processes it,to display a uniquely targeted message in and as part of the then-viewedwebsite displayed by the browser. The uniquely targeted message, becauserelevant to the specific browser events, activities, and states, istargeted to the browser user's interests at the particular point intime.

In certain embodiments of the example targeted content message servingprovider, the provider additionally creates and makes available towebsite operators a provider website for the targeted content messageserving. Customers (e.g., companies and product/service vendors who arewebsite operators) access the provider website to set up a customeraccount to receive targeted content messages served by the provider toappear in the customer's website when viewed in a browser and also otherwebsites viewed by the same browser during a browsing session. Thecustomer, on setting up an account for payment and records purposes ofthe message serving provider, creates a ‘Campaign’ for the messageserver for the particular customer website, by defining the size of themessage to be displayed in the customer's website and then directing‘Rules’ for the Campaign. Customers also input specifics of messageswhich are to be displayed for the customer in websites viewed bybrowsers originally accessing the customer's website. The messagespecifics can include message files, message text, images, graphics,media, and the like. The customer then includes a script device,provided by the message serving provider, in the website file for thecustomer's website of the Campaign.

The Rules for each Campaign of a customer correspond, in the example, toa URI Rule, a Content Interest Rule, a Market Focus Rule, and a SiteVisits Rule, as previously described with respect to FIGS. 3-6. Incertain example embodiments, the Campaign is built on rules andconditions that determine who, what, when, where and how to servetargeted content messages. The Campaign is easily created and managedthrough the customer's interaction with the provider's website. TheCampaign, itself, can include targeted content messages served toprovide discount offers, images, overview copy links to landing pageswith additional information on the content or messages; and numerousother possibilities. The Rules for the Campaign have objective oftargeting individuals and audiences who view the customer's website overthe Internet through a web browser. Several specific examples ofpossibilities for the Rules are as follows:

URI

The URI rule allows a customer to enter a list of keywords related tothe specific content of messages that the customer desires to be servedfor display in the customer website. When a viewer retrieves thecustomer website in a browser, if the viewer has searched for one of thekeywords, the provider serves a message of the customer containing thespecific content of related keywords is displayed in the customerwebsite.Example: An online seller of camping gear is overstocked on a particulartype of camping tent and needs to reduce the inventory. This seller cancreate a campaign using the URI rule and enter a list of relatedkeywords—e.g., tent, camping gear, sleeping bags, backpacks. When aviewer who has searched one of the keywords (of the URI rule) retrievesthe seller site in a browser, the provider serves an applicable messageof the customer displayed in the customer website, such as oneadvertising a sale on the tent in question.

Content Interest

The Content Interest rule allows a customer to enter a list of URLaddresses of websites containing related information to the desiredmessages. When a viewer retrieves the customer website in a browser, theprovider serves a message of the customer containing content withrelation to the related information of the other websites, for displayin the customer website.Example: An international online liquidator of excess inventory sellseverything from area rugs to wedding rings and has a desire to push aparticular brand of HD television. This liquidator can create a Campaignusing the Content Interest rule and submit site URLs specializing in HDtelevisions, home electronics and even specific URLs within a site, suchas the HDTVworld section of CNET. When a viewer retrieves the customerwebsite in a browser, if the viewer has previously retrieved the websiteof one of the URLs in the browser, the provider serves a message of thecustomer relevant to the particular HD television, for display in thecustomer website.

Market Focus

The Market Focus rule allows customers to target viewers of thecustomer's website focusing on specific geographic locations. When aviewer retrieves the customer's website in a browser, the providerserves a message of the customer relevant to the individual location ofthe viewer, for display in the customer website.Example: A national restaurant chain has thousands of locations acrossthe nation. Yet, within each market, certain franchises of the chain mayoffer different specials based on the season, food supply and even thetime of day. The restaurateur customer can create a Campaign using theMarket Focus rule to target customers within the geographic area ofrelevant franchise. When a viewer retrieves the customer's website in abrowser, if the browser has a particular geographic location, such asSeattle, Wash., the provider serves a message of the customer of menuinformation and daily specials offered by the nearest franchise to thebrowser, such as a location in Seattle (and not Dallas, Tex.).

Site Visits

The Site Visits rule allows customers to target viewers of thecustomer's website focusing on the number of times a viewer's browserhas retrieved the customer's website. When a viewer retrieves thecustomer's website in a browser, the provider serves a message of thecustomer for display in the customer website, relevant to the number oftimes the customer website was retrieved by the viewer's browser withina defined timeframe.Example: An online retailer of women's shoes is attempting to increasesales over the prior quarter. However, online shoe shoppers have beenhesitant to purchase shoes without fitting them before the purchase. Theretailer customer can create a Campaign using the Site Visits rule totrack the number of times a viewer has retrieved the customer websitewithout making a purchase. After three trips to the online store of thewebsite, for example, the provider serves a message of the customeradvertising free shipping and free return shipping if the viewer is notsatisfied with the purchase. Additionally, after six trips to the onlinestore, for example, the provider serves a message of the customeroffering an additional discount, such as 10% off on pricing. Even more,after nine trips to the online store, for example, the provider serves amessage of the customer offering a buy-one, get-one-free opportunity.

Prioritize, Mix & Match Content Campaign Rules

Customers of the provider's targeted content message serving canadditionally prioritize the rules for order of application in servingmessages via the message server and database. For example, the MarketFocus rule may be assigned first priority by the customer via theprovider website, and if the viewer of the customer website is notwithin a particular geographic area under the rule, then a second inpriority rule assigned by the customer, such as the Site Visits rule (orother rule), applies. The customer, via the provider website, can alsomix and match Campaigns to combine multiple rules at any time, in whichevent the provider's message server operates according to the rulecombinations to serve targeted content messages displayed in thecustomer website that are of most relevancy to the customer's objectivesand viewer's interests.Example: A brick-and-mortar and online wine chain has too many bottlesof French Cabernet in its Charlotte, N.C., stores, and too many bottlesof Napa Merlot in its Portland, Oreg., stores. By combining the MarketFocus rule and the URI rule, the wine chain customer can create acombination of Campaigns to target respective area viewers retrievingthe customer's primary website and exhibiting interest in these specificwine varietals. To increase conversion odds (i.e., sales vs number ofsite visits) further, the chain can employ the Campaigns to leverage theSite Visits rule, by ensuring that the provider's message server servesmessages of the customer of an introductory offer for viewers who haveretrieved the customer website three times but not made a purchase.Of course, numerous variations, additions and substitutions, arepossible in the Campaign, Rules for the Campaign, and messages of anyparticular customer and as permitted by the message serving provider.

Referring to FIG. 7, an exemplary web page 700 of a provider website forCampaign creation by a customer of the message serving provider, is anXML page capable of receiving customer input over the network to thepage, for creating the Campaign of the customer. The web page 700connects to the database via the message server. The web page 700 ispositioned on a “Content” folder 702.

Referring to FIG. 8, an excerpted portion 800 of the Content folder 702of the web page 700 of FIG. 7 illustrates the process of a customerinteraction with the web page 700 to enter a Market Focus rule accordingto specific messages of the customer in the Campaign. For example, therule is created through the customer's input of a desired message(including any text, graphics, media, etc.) from the “Content” frame ofthe web page 700, such as by click and drag of a mouse, and input oftext information, such as by keyboard, in the blanks.

Referring to FIG. 9, a preview 900 of the desired message entered by thecustomer in the excerpted portion 800 of FIG. 8 is illustrated. Thepreview 900 is automatically displayed via the provider's website uponthe customer's specification of location, number of visits and/or otherrule information for the Campaign. The particular desired message, as itwill be displayed in the customer's website (or other websitethereafter) viewed in a browser, when served by the provider's messageserver, is shown as the message 902.

Referring to FIG. 10, an embed code display 1000 of a script device1002, such as representing a script program stored in memory, which mustbe embedded in the customer's website is illustrated. The script device1002 is an example representing the script device 342 of the system 300of FIG. 3. The customer must include the script device 1002 in thewebsite file for the customer's website, in order to receive targetedcontent message serving provided by the message server of the provider.As previously described, the script device detects at least location ofthe browser and identity of the customer website accessed by thebrowser, creates the identification artifact representing the locationand identity, and directs the browser to communicate the identificationartifact to the message server.

Referring to FIG. 11, a “Users” folder 1100 of the web page 700illustrates individual administrators designated by the customer havingaccess to the provider's website for creation of the Campaign andviewing or related provider website pages. The provider's web page 700allows user permissions to be assigned, such as in order to allowcustomer employees, ad agencies, or others authorized by the customer tocreate and edit the Campaign and to access related information availablefrom the provider website regarding the Campaign.

The database of the provider, together with the provider's website, viacustomer input, administers the Campaign, as well as customer actions inconnection with the Campaign. The database, such as the exemplarydatabase 400 of FIG. 4, maintains the specific Campaign(s) for thecustomer and customer website, as well as any others for respectivecustomers and customer websites serviced by the message servingprovider. In addition to Campaign creation and administrationoperations, the database maintains a log bin 412 for tracking andreporting of respective Campaign activities, including maintaining logsof customer usage, viewer retrieval of customer sites receiving thetargeted content message serving of provider, and other customer andviewer data stored in memory.

Referring to FIG. 12, a browser 1202, such as a browser program storedin memory and processed by a client device, displays a website 1204 anda message 1206 as part of the website. The message 1206 is displayed bythe browser 1202 as part of the website 1204, as the browser 1202processes a message device received from a message server according tothe embodiments. As previously described, the browser 1202 originallyprocesses a web file for the website 1204 which includes a scriptdevice. The script device detects a locator of the browser 1202 andidentity of the website 1204, and communicates an identification devicerepresenting the locator and identity to the message server. The messageserver creates a message server script device, in conjunction with thedatabase and its applicable Campaign Rules and priority policies, andgenerates the corresponding message device and communicates the messagedevice to the browser 1202. The browser 1202 processes the messagedevice (note, for example, the browser 1202 continues processing themessage device as indicated by A in FIG. 12). The message device detectsstates and features of the browser 1202 and client device, per theparticular message device, and communicates to the message serverrelevant call devices representing the states and features so detected(including, for example, interaction with prior displayed messages,number of site visits, historical browsing, and other possibilities). Inresponse to receiving each call device, the message server performs alook-up in the database, via the message server script device, CampaignRules, and priority policies for the particular website 1204 and browser1202, and communicates a select message file to the browser 1202 foreach respective call device. Each select message file is received andprocessed by the browser 1202 to display a unique, select, and relevantmessage, for example, the message 1206 is one such message, targeted incontent for the particular browser 1202, website 1204 and interests ofthe user of the browser 1202.

Numerous alternatives are possible in the embodiments. In certainalternatives, for example, the message server and database incorporateelements, rules and processes, such as into Campaign options orotherwise, input by statistical, analytical or quantitative webservices, such as, for example, as may now or in the future be availablefrom Google, Inc. (e.g., Website Optimizer™), Adobe Systems Inc. (e.g.,Omniture® Test & Target™), or others.

Further, in the foregoing specification, the invention has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, one ofordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications andchanges can be made without departing from the scope of the presentinvention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, thespecification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of the present invention.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed above with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems and device(s), connection(s)and element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution tooccur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical,required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. Asused herein, the terms “comprises, “comprising,” or any other variationthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elementsdoes not include only those elements but may include other elements notexpressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, orapparatus.

1. A system for serving targeted content messages over a network to aweb browser device communicatively connected to the network, the webbrowser device processes a website file of the web browser device as awebsite, the web browser device having a network address forcommunicating on the network, comprising: a server computercommunicatively connected to the network, the server computer includes amemory and a message configurator device; a database communicativelyconnected to the server computer, the database includes at least onerule device for the website file and a plurality of message artifactsfor the website file; a script writer of the server computer, the scriptwrites includes a PHP script builder; a PHP script storage of the servercomputer; a PHP script stored in the PHP storage of the server computer,created by the PHP script builder of the script writer based on the atleast one rule device, the website file, and the network address of theweb browser device; a message device corresponding to the PHP script,created by the PHP script builder of the script writer based on the atleast one rule device for the website file, the website file, and thenetwork address of the web browser device; a prioritizer of thedatabase, the prioritizer selectively orders retrieval, according to theat least one rule device for the website file, of the message artifactsfor the message configurator device; a call article created by themessage device, the call article communicatively connected over thenetwork to the server computer; a select message artifact of thedatabase, retrieved by the message configurator device based on the PHPscript stored in memory and the prioritizer of the database, in responseto the call article, communicatively connected to the message device ofthe website file; and a select message display in the website in thebrowser device, the select message display corresponding to the selectmessage artifact.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a memoryof the web browser device; a web browser program stored in the memory ofthe web browser device; a web server computer communicatively connectedto the network; a server website file of the server computer, the serverwebsite file is accessible to the web browser program by download fromthe web server computer over the network; a script device of the serverwebsite file unique to the server website file; and wherein the webbrowser program stored in memory of the web browser device processes theserver website file, including the script device, communicates thenetwork address of the web browser device to the server computer, andreceives the message device in the website file via communication of theserver computer over the network to the web browser program.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the database includes unique ones of the atleast one rule device for a plurality of website files and unique onesof the plurality of message artifacts for each respective one of theplurality of website files; wherein a plurality of web browser devicescommunicatively connect to the network for access to respective ones ofthe plurality of website files; wherein the PHP script builder of thescript writer of the server computer creates a unique one of the PHPscript stored in the PHP storage for each one of the web browser device,based on the network address of the one of the web browser device, forrespective one or more of the plurality of the website file accessed bythe one of the web browser device; wherein a unique one of the messagedevice of the respective one or more of the plurality of the websitefile accessed by each one of the web browser device is created by thePHP script builder of the script writer based on the at least one ruledevice for the respective one or more of the plurality of the websitefile and the network address of the one of the web browser device;wherein the call article of each unique one of the message device isunique to the one of the web browser device; wherein the select messageartifact of the database is retrieved by the message configurator deviceby processing the PHP script stored in memory for the one of the webbrowser device and by the prioritizer of the database, in response tothe call article; and wherein the select message displayed in each oneof the web browser device corresponds to the select message artifact inresponse to the call article of the unique one of the message device,unique to the respective one of the web browser device.
 4. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the message device is a JavaScript program stored inmemory of the web browser device; and wherein the message artifact is aFlash (.swf) file including a logical block responsive to activity ofthe web browser device.
 5. A method of serving targeted content messagesfor display in a website accessed in a browser program of a networkedcomputer communicatively connected to a network at a network address forcommunications, comprising the steps of: placing a script device in awebsite file for the website; processing the website file, together withthe script device, in the browser program, including: determining thenetwork address of the networked computer; determining an identifier ofthe website file; and sending an artifact representing the networkaddress and the identifier over the network, to a server computercommunicatively connected to the network; detecting the network addressand the identifier by the server computer from the artifact; querying adatabase by the server computer for a database article related to thenetwork address and the identifier; constructing a script program storedin memory of the server computer, based on the step of querying;constructing a message device stored in memory of the web browserdevice, from the script program stored in memory of the server computerof the step of constructing the script program; calling the servercomputer, by the message device, by communication of an identifierrepresenting an action of the web browser device; receiving theidentifier by the server computer; querying the database by the servercomputer in response to the step of receiving, for a message artifactrelated to the script program, the identifier, the website file, and theweb browser; responding by the server computer to the web browser devicewith the message artifact for display as a message in the website. 6.The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of: prioritizing thedatabase article and the message article, among a plurality of databasearticles and a plurality of message articles, for the respective stepsof querying.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of thestep of prioritizing is performed by a website server remote from theserver computer, via communicative connection over the network.
 8. Themethod of claim 5, further comprising the steps of: communicativelyserving the website file by a web server over the network, to thebrowser program; and setting a rule policy to control the step ofprioritizing the database article and message article for the websitefile.
 9. A method of providing a targeted content message service over acommunications network, comprising the steps of: providing anadministration website communicatively accessible by a network deviceover the network; accessing the administration website by the networkdevice via the network; delivering a plurality of message items to themessage server database; setting a rule policy of a message serverdatabase by the network device, via input to the administration website,to prioritize respective ones of the plurality of message artifacts;providing a website file to a web server computer communicativelyconnected to the network, the website file includes a specified scriptdevice; serving the website file of the web server computer, to abrowser program stored in memory of a client device communicativelyconnected to the network; receiving a unique network address of theclient device and an identifier of the website file by a server computercommunicatively connected to the network; querying the database for theunique network address and the identifier, based on the rule policy ofthe step of setting; constructing a script program stored in memory ofthe server computer, based on the step of querying the database for theunique network address and the identifier; constructing an ad device bythe server computer based on the script program stored in memory of theserver computer; serving the ad device to the browser program stored inmemory of the client device; receiving an indicator by the servercomputer via the network from the ad device, representing an action ofthe web browser; querying the database for a select one of the pluralityof message items, based on the indicator; constructing a messageartifact by the server computer via the script builder, for the selectone of the plurality of message items; sending the message artifact bythe server computer, to the browser program stored in memory of theclient computer; logging an item representing the indicator, the selectone of the plurality of message artifacts, and the step of sending theselect one of the plurality of message artifacts, by the database. 10.The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: repeating thesteps of receiving an indicator by the server computer and querying thedatabase for a select one of the plurality of message items, based onthe indicator; constructing a next message artifact by the servercomputer via the script builder of the step of varying the scriptbuilder stored in memory of the server computer, for the select one ofthe plurality of message items; and repeating the steps of sending themessage artifact by the server computer, to the browser program storedin memory of the client computer and logging an indicia of theindicator, the select one of the plurality of message artifacts, and thestep of sending the select one of the plurality of message artifacts, bythe database.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: setting upa campaign account file of the database for the specific website file,via the administration website; and wherein the step of setting the rulepolicy corresponds to the campaign file and the campaign filecorresponds to the website file.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein aplurality of unique campaign account files are set up via theadministration website; wherein each campaign account file relates toone or more website file, each website file is related to at least oneunique message item of the database, each website file includes arespective unique script device; wherein the step of serving delivers aunique ad device to the web browser; wherein a plurality of web browserscan access the website file, each has a unique network address; andwherein a unique one of the message artifact is served to eachrespective one of the plurality of web browsers accessing the website,based on the script device for the web browser and the indicator for theweb browser of the step of receiving.
 13. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising the step of: varying the script builder stored in memory ofthe server computer, based on the step of logging.
 14. The method ofclaim 10, further comprising the steps of: varying the script builderstored in memory of the server computer, based on the step of logging;and second varying the script builder stored in memory of the servercomputer, based on the step of repeating the step of logging.